Beer

For a "Whale of a good beer" - Fudgie the Beer is a real thing!

01 June, 2018

Fudgie the Whale — the Carvel ice-cream cake that is beloved by 5-year-olds and their 40-something dads alike — has undergone an “adult” transformation. The cake Carvel has spent the past four decades marketing with the cheesy slogan “For a whale of a dad” is now available, for a couple of weeks anyway, in beer form to celebrate Father’s Day.

“Fudgie the Whale holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans, including, of course, fathers. This year, through Carvel’s partnership with Captain Lawrence, we’re happy to give dad two of his favorite things: A Carvel ice cream cake and a unique handcrafted beer” — although there’s no reason why anyone who isn’t a dad can’t enjoy it, too. A six percent ABV stout, Fudgie the Beer uses Carvel Signature Crunchies and Fudge in the mash, according to Food and Wine; it also adds Carvel Fudge to the tank.

The inspiration for Fudgie the Beer, said Captain Lawrence founder and brewmaster Scott Vaccaro to Food and Wine, “grew from our own nostalgic love for Carvel’s famous flavors.” He also noted that, “although the beer is a treat, it’s also very drinkable — something we’re sure everyone will enjoy sipping on while kicking back on Father’s Day.” According to Vaccaro, there's "a whole bunch of Carvel chocolate in this beer," which "works so well"; he added, "The beer is a touch roasty, with sweet chocolate undertones and aroma of chocolate, fudge and hops.” And honestly? That sounds like a perfect beer to me. I like my beers as dark as the inner reaches of my goth little soul, and all of that seems to fit the bill wonderfully. The fact that it’s also filled with chocolate is, y’know, an added plus.

However, there's a catch: Fudgie the Beer is only available at Captain Lawrence’s home base in Elmsford, New York, and only for a limited time, at that. Per Food and Wine, less than 100 cases of the beer, which comes in a 16-ounce can, will be released, so when they’re gone, they’re gone — although if you’re lucky enough to be able to head up to Elmsford to grab yourself one, you can expect a four-pack to retail for $18.